Potato-digger.



Patented Jan. 9, I900.

D. DENIS.

POTATO BIGGER.

(Application filed May 16. 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

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No. 640,754. Patented Ian. 9, I900.

D. DENIS. POTATO BIGGER.

(Application fllelL May 16. 1899.)

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No. 640,754. 4 Patent'ed Ian. 9, I900. n. DENIS.

POTATO mean.

(Application filed May 16, 1899.)

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Pafented Ian. 9, I900.

' D. DENIS.

PDTATU BIGGER.

(Application filed May 16. 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheei 4,

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PATENT DELPHIS DENIS, OF ST. BENOIT, CANADA.

POTATO-DIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,754, dated January9, 1900.

Application filed May 16,1899. Serial No. 717,106, (No model.)

T0 all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, DELPHIS DENIS, a subject of Her Majesty the Queen ofGreat Britain, residing at St. Benoit, county of Two Mountains, Provinceof Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPotato-Diggers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to improvements in potato-diggers.

One object of my invention is to provide a digger which will, during thepassage over the potato-row, automatically remove the potatoes from theground, the removal including the ground within which the potatoes lieand the potatoes including the potato-stalks, the entire removed partbeing carried onto an endless belt from where the stalks areautomatically removed from the potatoes, and the ground automaticallyshaken from the potatoes, after which the potatoes are automaticallyassorted and delivered into bags.

A further object is to provide a construction which is simple andefficientin operation, durable in construction, and which can be made ata moderate cost.

IVith these and other objects in view, the nature of which willhereinafter appear, my invention consists in the improved constructionand combination of parts, hereinafter fully described, and particularlypointed out within the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification andin which similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in all ofthe views, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved digger. Fig. 2 isa top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinalsectional view of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the digger andthe mechanism for removing the stalks from the potatoes. Fig. 5 is avertical sectional view showing the mounting for the digger-supportingwheel. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 5. Fig.7

is a sectional view showing the construction of the delivery passage-wayfor the potatostalks. Fig. 8 is a detailof one of the buckets.

Fig. 9 is a cross-section through one of the rear elevators and thetable.

In machines of this character it is essential to the various operationswhich are necessary to remove the potatoes without injuring them thatthe work be done in a careful manner, and inasmuch as the saving in theharvesting in a potato-crop must necessarily depend upon the reductionof the number of persons assisting it will be readily understood thatthe working of the parts should be done as automatically as possible,and in order that such careful and automatical operations may beobtained I construct the device to operate in a manner substantiallysimilar to the digging of potatoes by hand.

In the construction hereinafter set forth the general operation of theparts is substantially as follows: The device is passed over the row inwhich the potatoes are located, and a digger passes into the ground to apoint below the level of the potatoes, the digger being formedsubstantially similar to a scoop. The passage of this digger causes theentire quantity of earth and potatoes to be forced upwardly onto atraveling belt which is moving rearwardly. .During this rearward passagethe stalks which are retained on the upper surface of the earth areautomatically passed between two rollers, which serve to detach thestalks from the potatoes, at the same time loosening up the dirt whichis on the potatoes, the stalks being passed outward through separatepassage-ways to the outer side of the digger and entirely away from anyliability of the stalks passing into the cleansing portion of themachine. The potatoes are carried rearwardly, the shaking received byreason of the removal of the stalks having a tendency to remove aportion of the dirt, and are then passed into a series of buckets,preferably perforated, formed on an inclined elevator, which serves tocarry the potatoes and Whatever dirt that may have remained on thepotatoes upwardly and drop the entire contents onto a suitable shakerand assorter, over which they are passed, and during such passage becomecleansed and assorted. By the movement of the shaker and assorter thepotatoes are then carried rearwardly and onto a series of gratedsupports, which serve to pass the potatoes to suitable elevators, fromwhich they are passed to the bags. During the entire movement of thepotatoes they are placed in perforated or grated receptacles or ontables having such form, so that each movement of the machine tends tofree the potatoes from the dirt, while the elimination of the stalksprimarily, by reason of their removal, is advantageous, as there is noliability of the parts becoming choked up by the stalks during theoperation of the machine.

In order that a thorough and complete understanding may be had of theconstruction and the detailed operation of the various parts, I will nowproceed to describe the parts in detail and in combination, referringfor a clearer construction of the description to the accompanyingdrawings.

l designates the framework of myim proved digger, mounted on thesupporting-wheels 2, the front pair of which are mounted on an axle 3,which is pivotally connected (see Fig. 3) in order that the digger maybe readily turned, the frame 1 being provided at its front end with agooseneck to enable the front Wheel to turn to proper position. Theframe 1 consists, essentially, in the side pieces 4, extending from thefront to the rear of the machine or digger, the mechanism hereinafterdescribed being located generally within the space formed between thetwo sides 4. In describing the mechanism, I will do so as it issuccessively reached in its operation, by means of which the passage ofthe potatoes and the stalks canbe readily traced, and the operationbetter understood.

The mechanism first brought into operation is that used for digging thepotatoes from the ground, and this mechanism is removably securedbetween the side pieces 4 by suitable connecting-bolts 5 passing throughthe sides of the digger and the sides 4, this construction enabling thedigger to have a pivotal movement if, by reason of the rough surface ofthe ground, it is necessary that such pivotal movement be obtained.

As shown in the drawings, the digger is formed of the sides 6, whichextend forwardly a suitable distance, from the front end of whichextends the digging-nose 7, which is formed substantially as shown inthe draw ings, being formed of the side and bottom, the bottom 8 havingits forward end rounded, as shown, which enables it to pass forwardthrough the ground without having a tendency to pass deeper into theground than is desirable. The front end of the side of the digger-nose,as well as the bottom 8, is

preferably brought to a thin edge in order that it may better passthrough the ground, eliminating to a great extent the heavy pull whichis placed upon the draft-animals. As it is necessary that thedigger-nose pass into the ground below the level of the potatoes and asthe potatoes lie at varying depths within the ground, it is essentialthat the depth to which the nose may be passed can be adjustablyregulated, and this is accomplished by placing the connecting-bolts 5,forming the pivot-point for the digger, at a point near the rear end ofthe digger and providing the digger at a suitable point in front of thebolts 5 with a pair of supporting-wheels 9, which are adjustably mountedon the side 6 by the mechanism shown in Figs. 5 and 6. This mountingconsists, essentially, in forming within the sides and extendingvertically therein a dovetail or tongue-and-grooved recess 10, withinwhich is mounted a block 11, having its edges formed to fit the recess10. To the blocks 11 are secured laterally-extending bearing-pins 12,upon which the wheels 9 are adapted to rotate.

. To regulate the position of the block 11,I

provide suitable screw-threaded pins 13 on both the upper and lower sideof the blocks, said pins serving to adjust the height of the block 11 asregards the side 6 and securely hold said blocks in their adjustedposition.

In rear of the digger-nose 7 is mounted on suitable rolls 14 an endlessbelt 15, formed of two bands 16, traveling on opposite sides, said bandsbeing connected by suitable rods, said rods being placed a smalldistance apart in order that the ground, which is brought u p by thedigger-nose, may pass therethrough,

the ground being shaken from the potatoes during the removal of thestalks, as hereinafter described. This band is driven by suitableconnection from the rear wheels 2 in an obvious manner.

At a suitable point in the side 6 above the endless belt '15 I place aroller 18, which is adapted to be driven by means of a suitable beltconnected to one of the rolls 14. Above the roller 18 is provided asuitable roller 19, which is mounted in bearings having a verticalmovement, said bearings being held in a downward position by means of aspring 20, thus causing the roller 19 to normally come in contact withthe roller 18. In rear of the rollers 18 and 19 is secured an attachment(best shown in Fig. 7) consisting of a top and bottom 21, between whichis formed a vertical wall 22, said wall extending from a point centrallyof the rollers toward each side in a curved direction, forming apassage-way which leads to and through the side 6,"through whichpassage-way the stalks are passed as they are received from the rollers18 and 19, the latter receiving the stalks as they are passed rearwardlywith the potatoes and the earth as taken up by the digger-nose. Fromthis construction it will be seen that as the digger-nose carries theearth, potatoes, and stalks upward on the endless belt 15 the rollem 18and 19 grip the stalks and in an obvious manner break up the earth, andas it passes rearwardly over the belt 15 a portion of the dirt isautomatically removed.

In rear of the digger is provided a suitable elevator 23, formed of asuitable endless bucket-chain 24, said chain being passed over suitabletop and bottom rolls 25, as best shown in Fig. 3, said bucket-chainbeing adapted to receive the potatoes from the belt 15 and carry themupwardly, dropping them at the upper end onto a suitable cleaner andassorter, constructed as hereinafter set forth. The bucket is formedsubstantially as shown in Fig. 8, comprising a curved outer portion, theside 26, and the rods 27, extending along the rear open face of thebucket. As shown,the curved portion is perforated, which perforations,together with the spaces formed between the rods 27, allow of the escapeof earth from the potatoes during the upward movement of such bucket.

The cleaner and assorter 28, on which the potatoes are dropped from theelevator 23, consists of a frame 29, within which are removably securedthe grated screens 30 and 31, the bars of which extend lengthwise of thedigger, the bars of the upper screen being of less number than those ofthe lower screens, thus making a greater distance between the bars inthe upper screen than in the lower. The frame 29 is given a vibratingmotion by reason of the fact that its rear end is pivotally mounted onsuitable arms 32, the free ends of which are pivotally mounted in thesides 4, the front end of said frame being connected to a suitablecrank-arm 33, which is rotated by a suitable connection, this rotationserving to cause the front end to have a circular movement, whichmovement serves to vibrate the cleaner and assorter. As shown in thedrawings, the screen 30 is of a greater length than the screen 31, andthis serves the purpose of carrying the potatoes of the assorted sizesto different positions in rear of the assorter, the potatoes beingassorted by reason of the smaller-sized ones dropping through theinterstices between the bars of the upper screen onto the lower set ofbars.

As shown, the rear of the digger is provided with what may be termed agrated table 34, which is divided into front and rear portions by avertically-extending wall 35, located, approximately, at the center ofsaid table and extending laterally of the digger. This forms,substantially, two compartments, and to these compartments the potatoesare passed from the screens 30 and 31, the potatoes of smaller size fromthe screen 31 being passed onto the compartment nearest the rear end ofthe digger, while the larger-sized potatoes coming from the screen 30are passed onto the rear portion of the table forming the rearcompartment. The tables 34 are formed with bars extending laterally ofthe digger and of a gradual incline, said bars leading to a suitablereceptacle, which communicates with an elevator 36,f0rmed substantiallysimilar to the elevator 23, said elevators serving to raise the potatoesto a height sufficient to allow them to readily pass within suitablebags which are held under the delivery-spout,

said bags being adapted to receive the potatoes in an obvious manner.The elevatorsiifi are driven by suitable means, such as shown,

although other operating connections may be used, if desired, saidelevators being arranged on opposite sides of the table 34 for a reasonreadily understood.

The digger is provided with a suitable platform 37 at the rear endthereof, upon which the operator or operators stand and on which thebags are supported during the operation of filling.

From this construction, the operation of which will, it is thought, heclearly apparent, it will be seen that during the passage of thepotatoes rearward from the point where they are dug up from the groundto the point where they are delivered into the bags they are subjectedat all times to the vibration of the machine and of the partswhich havea tendency to shake off any dirt which may be formed thereon, but withnot sufficient force to injure the potatoes themselves. Anotheradvantage in this construction lies in the fact that there is no laborrequired excepting the driving of the digger and the attendance of theoperators on the back who are attending to the bagging of the potatoes,allintermediate steps being performed automatically.

As will be readily seen, the digger attachment, when not in use, can beentirely removed, if desired, or may be raised to a position where thefront of the nose will be above the level of the ground, whereupon theentire implement maybe transported from one place to another.

The advantages of this construction are its simple and efficientoperation, each part forming its work automatically, the dispensing withany manual labor between the point of digging of the potatoes and thebagging of them, its durability of construction, and its low cost ofmanufacture.

To allow of the ready raising of the diggernose when such raising isdesirable, I provide a suitable cross -rod 38, on which is mounted aseries of segments 39, the outer periphery of which is adapted toreceive a chain connected to the digger-nose in any suitable manner. Therod 38 extends outwardly through one of the sides and has at its outeredge a suitable operating-lever, which lever serves as a means to rotatesaid shaft and raise said digger-nose, the diggernose being held in itsraised position by means of the pawl-and-rack mechanism shown in Fig. 1.Other means may be used for raising the digger-nose, the intention beingto raise the nose to a position above the level of the ground in orderthat the digger may be readily moved from place to place and alsopreventing any tendency of the digger-nose to pass to a depth below thedesired point when in operation.

While I have herein shown a preferred form of carrying my invention intoeffect, yet

-I do not desire to limit myself to such pre- ICC IIO

ferred details of construction, but claim the "ght to use any and allmodifications thereof which will serve to carry into eifect the objectsto be attained by this invention in so far as such modifications andchanges may fall within the spirit and scope of my said invention.

I claim- 1. A potato-digger, comprising a frame; a digger-nose pivotallyand removablysecured within said frame; an independent rolling supportadjustably secured to said nose, whereby the point of the nose will beheld at a substantially predetermined point in the ground relative tosaid support without varying the position of said frame; means, mountedwithin said nose, for automatically removing the stalks from thepotatoes; a vibrating cleanser and assorter mounted within said frame;means located at the rear end of said frame for delivering the assortedpotatoes to proper receptacles therefor; conveyers located within saidframe for automatically carrying the potatoes therethrough; and meansoperated by the forward movement of the digger-frame for impartingmovement to the stalk-removing means and to said conveyers,substantially as described.

2. A potato-digger, comprising a frame; a digger-nose removably mountedtherein; an independent rolling support adjustably secured to said nose,whereby the point of the nose will be held at a substantiallypredetermined point in the ground relative to said support Withoutvarying the position of said frame; a vibrating cleanser and assortermounted within said frame; means for removing the stalks from thepotatoes, carried by said nose and operated automatically,"

sorter; means for independently dischargin said assorted potatoes;perforated conveyors located within said frame, said conveyors beingadapted to carry the potatoes from said nose to said independentreceptacles; and means for imparting movement to said stalkremovingmeans and the conveyers, said means being operated by the forwardmovement of the digger-frame, substantially as described.

3. A stalk-remover for potato-diggers, comprising a series of rolls heldin yielding contact and having a rotary movement, said rolls moving at apoint above the path of movement of the dug potatoes; and a series ofcurved delivery-tubes mounted in rear of said rolls, to receive thestalks as they pass from said rolls, said tubebeing adapted to deliverthe stalks at a point independent from the delivery portion of thepotato conveying means, substantially as described.

4. A bucket for conveyers, comprising end pieces; a concave perforatedfront and bottom piece; and a series of bars extending between said endpieces, said bars being located at the rear of the bucket, substantiallyas described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

- his DELPI-IIS DENIS.

mark. Wi tnesses:

J. A. MARIoN, A. W. YOUNG.

